Employment bill disappoints unions

The TUC and individual unions have expressed their disappointment over major gaps in the new Employment Relations Bill which was published last month (see Backup, page 25).

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said that it does not go far enough. Even with the changes it still "leaves people at work in the UK with less protection than that enjoyed in the rest of Europe".

In particular, Barber noted the failure to outlaw 'unfair labour practices' during recognition campaigns. Without sanctions Barber comments, "anti-union companies like BSkyB will be able to continue to scare, bully and frighten employees away from voting for union protection at work".

The TUC also wanted the government to end the exclusion of small employers from recognition law which deny around six million workers the right to union representation.

T&G general secretary Tony Woodley, commenting on the Bill, also argues that it represents a "missed opportunity" to give workers better rights. Woodley points out that there is nothing in the Bill preventing a "repetition of the scandalous treatment" of T&G members at Friction Dynamex.

Unions have given a cautious welcome to some of the proposals which the government says will be part of the Bill but which are not included in the published first draft. The most important of these is that unions will have the right to expel racist and fascist activists from their membership.